Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has advised against preparing rank turner pitches for the upcoming two-match Test series between India and West Indies, warning that such surfaces could prove counterproductive by reducing the gap between the two teams. The series is scheduled to begin with the first Test in Ahmedabad on October 2, followed by the second Test in Delhi on October 10.Chopra shared his views through a video on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ where he discussed the importance of pitch preparation for the series.“The biggest thing is what sort of pitches you want to play on in these two matches. We got stuck in Bengaluru when the pitch had a lot of moisture. Then we went to Pune and Mumbai and played on turners, and got stuck in both places. Why do you have to make such pitches?”Chopra emphasized that excessive bowling-friendly conditions could benefit the West Indies spinners, potentially making them appear more formidable than they are.“Such pitches are not required at all because the more bowler-friendly pitches you make, the closer the teams come. You are playing in the subcontinent. So the ball will turn. However, if it turns from the first ball and the soil starts coming out, stay away from that kind of a surface because that surface is counterproductive.”The former India opener pointed out that West Indies spinners Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, and Roston Chase could pose significant challenges on rank turners.Chopra advocated for surfaces that would allow matches to progress naturally into the fourth or fifth day.“You should play on good pitches where you will have to work a little hard. If the match doesn’t get over in three days, so be it. It’s a five-day match. It’s absolutely fine if it’s a three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half day game.”He also drew attention to how extreme bowler-friendly pitches affected the performances of senior Indian batsmen in recent years.“I will be very honest, if you see Virat Kohli or Cheteshwar Pujara‘s careers, you will find that the runs they didn’t score in the end for a long time, the main reason for that was the Indian pitches. When you make such pitches in India, where runs aren’t scored, you don’t get confidence, and runs won’t be scored overseas in any case.”The cricketer-turned-commentator referenced India’s successful approach during their home series against England last year, where they secured victories in the final four Tests on balanced pitches.Chopra suggested that the upcoming Tests against West Indies should feature pitches that provide a fair challenge to both batsmen and bowlers, ensuring competitive cricket over multiple days rather than quick finishes on extreme surfaces.The discussion comes in the context of India’s recent experiences with challenging pitch conditions, including their losses in the Test series against New Zealand on turner pitches last year.
